SAFA’s Huge Strides in Empowering Women in Football

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has contributed immensely in the growth of women within the football spheres, whether it is on the playing field, coaching, refereeing or administration.

Some of the South African women making a contribution within the game of football are listed below.

1. There are five women on the SAFA National Executive committee (Natasha Tsichlas, Ria Ledwaba, Thabile Msomi, Emma Hendricks and Mato Madlala from NSL)
2. There are two SAFA Regional Presidents (Emma Hendricks/Northern Cape and Elizabeth de Koker/Free State)
3. SAFA has 52 Regional Presidents/Vice-Presidents in all of the 52 SAFA Regions
4. SAFA has several of its executive members serving on the CAF and FIFA’s various committees.
5. There are over 217 women referees officiating from the highest NSL to lower leagues around the country. 6 of these are on the FIFA/CAF referees panel, a first on the continent. These are Akhona Makalima, Euzen Mokoena, Lindiwe Thwala, Nembaleni Vhahangwele, Manero Tau and Nobuhle Tsokela.
6. SAFA has produced over 300 women coaches coaching at various level across the country and these include all our women national teams being coached by women. This a first in the whole world.
7. Banyana Banyana is coached by Desiree Ellis who qualified for the FIFA World Cup, reached the finals of the 2018 AWCON and has won three back-to-back COSAFA tournaments. Thinasonke Mbuli is the assistant coach to Desiree Ellis while Shirleen Booysens is the performance analyst.
8. Under 20 women’s national team is coached by Jabulile Baloyi and Dludlu is the assistant coach.
9. U17 Women’s National Team is coached by Simphiwe ‘Shorty’ Dludlu and has reached the FIFA World Cup and her assistant is Lucinda Bouwers.
10. SAFA recently launched the SAFA National Women’s League, a first on the continent and Mamelodi Sundowns are the inaugural winners of the tournament.
11. Mamelodi Sundowns women’s team will participate in the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League which was launched this year and SAFA had huge input in the creation of this continental women’s tournament.
12. The SASOL women’s league has had a huge impact on the development of the game within women and continues to have a huge effect on the growth of the game
13. SAFA has successful U15 and U17 girls’ competitions across the country and this in addition to Regional and Provincial women tournaments
14. SAFA has one of the highest numbers of players playing oversees.